Operating knob and escutcheon plate assembly



May 20, 1947. H. M. REEVES OPERATING KNOB AND ESCUTCHEON PLATE ASSEMBLYFiled July 14, 1943 Patented ay 2Q, 1

OPERATING KNOB AND ESCUTCHEON PLATE ASSEMBLY Herbert M. Reeves,Kankakee, 111., assignor to Florence Stove Company, Gardner, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application July 14, 1943, Serial No.494,632

Claims. i

The present invention pertains to a novel construction of knob andescutcheon plate or bezel for an operating stem projecting through ahole in a panel.

The general object of the invention is to reduce the cost of manufactureof constructions in which a knob, backed by an escutcheon plate, ismounted on an operating stem protruding through a fairly large hole in apanel filled by the escutcheon plate, and particularly by obviating thenecessity of accurately aligning the stem in the center of the panelhole.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide anarrangement of the general class indicated in which the escutcheon plateor bezel and the knob are constituted as structurally separate partsfixed together by a connection affording a relative lateral floatingmotion between the two.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of a portion of a burner box panelof a stove through which operating stems for gas cocks project that areequipped with knob and escutcheon plate assemblies embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line2-2 in Fig. l.

2 ed plastic material or smthetic resin and, if desired, may be made ofthe same shade of material so that they have the appearance, whenassembled, of being but one piece.

To fix the knob or finger piece I l removably on the end of theoperating stem I2, the latter is provided with a flattened side at I2ato present what is known as a D-end, and a complementally shaped recessMa is formed in the rear face of the knob M. This recess is dimensionedso that the end of the stem telescopes within it with a snug frictionfit, retaining the knob against inadvertent removal from the end of thestem.

The washer I 5 also has a D-shaped opening Ilia therein, complemental tothe D-end on the operating stem i2, so that it can be slid onto the sameand, when in place, will be fixed against rotation. The washer bearsagainst a shoulder Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing theend of one of the operating stems and the parts of the knob andescutcheon plate assembly associated therewith.

The invention is especially applicable to the front panel and associatedoperating stems of the gas cocks in a gaseous fuel cooking stove. Asherein shown, Ill designates a portion of the front panel of a burnerbox for such a stove. The panels are usually made of sheet steel coveredby porcelain enamel. Projecting through large round holes I I in thepanel, in the usual manner for such burner boxes, are operating stems I2for gas cocks (not shown) located behind the panel. The holes II arebordered by inturned flanges I3.

In accordance with the present invention, each of the stems I2 isequipped with a novel knob and escutcheon plate assembly, and sincethose for the two stems shown are identical, a description of one willsumce for both. But three parts are required in the exemplaryconstruction shown, these being a knob I4, an escutcheon plate or bezelI5 and a washer I6. Both the knob and escutcheon plate may be made ofmold- I 2b at the inner end of the flattened slide I20. of the operatingstem I2.

The escutcheon plate I5 is sandwiched between the washer I6 and arearwardly facing shoulder on the knob herein formed by a laterallyprojecting flange portion Mb. The plate has a sufficiently large openingH54: in its center that a wide clearance is left between the edges ofthis opening and the telescoped portions of the knob and stem which arewithin it, thereby permitting a relative transaxial or floating movementof the knob and escutcheon plate. The opening I5a is, however,completely hidden from view from the front of the assembly by the knobflanges Mb. The peripheral portion of the escutcheon plate I5 is roundand is dimensioned to fit fairly accurately within the opening I I inthe panel I0 so as substantially to completely fill the same, the outersurface of the escutcheon plate being nearly flush with the panel. Suchouter surface of the escutcheon plate may be provided with suitableindicia (not shown) for indicating the direction of opening, etc., forthe gas cock which is operated by the stem I2.

The particular form of escutcheon plate shown is of shallow cup shapeand its outer edge is rounded, as indicated at, I5b, to enhanc itsappearance. On its inner face and integral annular rib I50 borders thecentral opening I5a. and the edge of this rib is adapted to bear againstthe washer I6. Strengthening ribs I5d join the rib I50 to the annularwall about the periphery of the plate.

In assembling the construction shown, the primary advantage is that theoperating stem I2 need not be accurately located with reference to thecenter of the panel hole II. Elimination of the necessity for accuracyof alignment at this point greatly simplifies the mounting of theburners in the burner box. With the operating stem I2 located onlygenerally centrally of the panel hole II, the illustrated escutcheonplate and knob assembly can be operatively mounted on it. For the latterpurpose it is merely necessary to slip the washer IS, the escutcheonplate I 5 and the knob l4 ove the end of the operating stem in the ordernamed.

When the parts are assembled as described, the escutcheon plate fitswithin and is centered by the edges of the panel hole II, the platebeing retained between the opposed surfaces of the knob I 4 and washerHi. In the event that the stem I2 is not accurately centered withrespect to the panel hole II, the clearance in thehole 15a in theescutcheon plate, as well as the fiat form of the opposed faces whichhold the escutcheon plate, permits the escutcheon plate to shifttransaxially of the knob.

The net result is that an assembly is provided on the end of theoperating stem which includes an escutcheon plate or bezel that islocated bodily within the panel hole, and may even be flush with theface of the panel if desired, and yet substantial misalignment of thestem with respect to the center of the panel hole is permitted. In someinstances it may be necessary or desirable that the escutcheon plateturn with the stem. In such event, the plate is ,free to shifttransaxially so as to avoid any danger of sticking or jamming of theparts.

I claim as my invention:

1. An operating knob and escutcheon plate assembly for use on anoperating stem projecting generally centrally through a substantiallylarger hole in a fixed panel comprising, in combination, a knob adaptedto be non-rotatably fixed to the projecting end of the stem, a washer onthe stem, an abutment on the stem adapted to hold said washer in spacedrelation to the projecting end thereof, and an escutcheon plate disposedbetween the knob and washer and having a central opening for passage ofthe stem through it with wide clearance about all portions of theprojecting end of the stem and having a border portion peripherallydimensioned to fit accurately within the panel hole, said knob having aportion overlying and bearing against the front face of said escutcheonplate and completely covering the opening in the plate, said k'nob beingremovable from the stem to allow installation of the plate afterassembly of the stem with the panel.

2. The combination with a fixed panel having a. hole therein and anoperating stem projecting generally centrally through said hole, of aknob removably held in non-rotatable relation with the projectingportion of said stem, an abutment on said stem in spaced relation to therear face of said knob, and an escutcheon plate having a central openinglarger than any portion of the projecting end of the stem for looselyreceiving the stem and covered by the outer portion of the knob, saidescutcheon plate being interposed between the abutment and knob andbeing free for limited movement transaxially of the latter, saidescutcheon plate being disposed within and 4 dimensioned tosubstantially close the hole in said pane 3. The combination with afixed panel having a ole therein and an operating stem for a valve orthe like, projecting generally centrally through the hole; of anoperating knob on the forward end of the stem, a washer on the stemforming an abutment rearwardly of the knob, an escutcheon plate bearingupon said washer and having a central opening larger than any portion ofthe projecting end of the stem and loosely receiving the rear portion ofthe knob, said escutcheon plate being disposed within and dimensioned toclose the hole in said panel, and a circular flange on said knobforwardly of the plate of a diameter substantially larger than theopening in the plate, said knob being removably secured to said stem tofacilitate the assembly of said escutcheon plate with the stem and thepanel.

4. The combination with a panel having a hole therein and an operatingstem projecting generally centrally through said hole, of an operatingknob on the forward end of the stem, said stem having a D-shaped forwardend portion and said knob having a complemental recess to receive saidD-shaped portion of the stem, a washer having a D-shaped hole therein toreceive said projecting end of the stem, and an escutcheon plate havinga central opening loosely receiving the rear portion of the operatingknob and a rearwardly projecting peripheral flange bearing on saidwasher, said knob having a rearwardly facing shoulder disposed forwardlyof the escutcheon plate and of a radial width such as to cove theopening in the plate.

5. An operating knob and escutcheon plate assembly for use on anoperating stem projecting through arelatively-large hole in afixed-panel comprising, in combination, "a knob adapted to befrictionally secured to the projecting end of the stem in non-rotatingrelation, an escutcheon plate adapted to fit into the hole in the panelto close the same, said escutcheon plate having a central opening largerthan any portion of the projecting end of the stem and adapted toreceive the stem with a relatively loose fit whereby substantialmisalignment of the stem within the panel hole is permitted, and alaterally projecting flange on said knob adapted to completely cover theopening in said escutcheon plate in any position of the stem within saidopening, said knob being removable from said stem to permit installationof said escutcheon plate from the front of said panel.

HERBERT M. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS R. a A

